Walt Griffin to be Seminole's new schools superintendent

SANFORD — Walt Griffin, director of high schools for Seminole County, will replace Bill Vogel as the district's superintendent of schools.

The School Board on Wednesday unanimously selected Griffin, agreeing that a familiar face who is knowledgeable about Seminole schools was best for the job.

"Walt Griffin can hit the ground running," School Board member Dede Schaffner said. "We would not have a learning curve with him. He could start tomorrow to take us to the next level."

"This was not a hard decision for me," School Board member Sylvia Pond agreed.

In winning the job, Griffin, 53, beat out two other finalists: Scott Howat, 42, chief lobbyist for Orange County schools; and Mark Porter, 54, superintendent of South Washington County schools in suburban Minneapolis.

"I am thrilled that I have the support of all of the board members," Griffin said, arriving in the school board meeting room to applause after the decision. "I am looking so forward to working with you and meeting the goals and objectives of the district to make it the greatest."

Griffin will assume his duties in July, when Vogel retires after being at the helm since 2003.

Griffin worked to dispel speculation that choosing him would put the district on a status quo course. He distanced himself from Vogel during an interview with the board on Monday, saying his role in Vogel's cabinet has been to challenge the superintendent's positions on various issues.

Still, the School Board seemed to take comfort that nothing would change drastically under Griffin.

"With Mr. Griffin it will be a seamless transition," School Board member Karen Almond said.

Board members feel the district is on the right course, but is stumbling because of inadequate funding and an overload of academic requirements from the state.

The school system's challenges include a $16 million budget deficit for the coming school year and financial shortages that are expected to continue for the next several years.

The district, along with others across Florida, also faces tougher performance standards, as the Department of Education ratchets up the passing scores on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.

Higher standards are expected to bring lower student test scores and, as a result, lower annual school letter grades that the state assigns based on those scores.

Griffin told the board during his interview that he would push the district in new directions, particularly in marketing its academic excellence and program choices. All three candidates agreed that the drain of students from traditional schools to charters, private and home school programs could be reduced if parents were more aware of what the highly rated school district has to offer.

Griffin also had an edge in the completion for the job by having a cadre of supporters who lobbied the School Board oh his behalf. Several spoke in his favor Wednesday before the board made its decision.

"He is the most qualified," said Pam Shellman, principal of Rock Lake Middle School. "No one else held a candle to him."

But Sandy Robinson, a former school board member who served on the candidate screening committee, reminded the board that while Griffin had a lot of supporters present, the other two candidates were highly qualified.

"You need to remember that experience is what we are looking for," said Robinson, reminding the board that Vogel's predecessor Paul Hagerty, was an "outsider" like Porter.

Griffin has been with the district for 30 years, starting as a math teacher at Tuskawilla Middle and working his way up to assistant principal at Lakeview Middle, principal of Seminole High and, finally, district director of secondary education five years ago.

Board members agreed that broad experience made up in large part for not having been a superintendent.